Illuminating device



May 8, 1928.

' L. J. VOORHEES ILLUMINATING DEVICE Original Filed June 9, 1920 M gin undo;

and 23 of Figs. 1 and Patented May 8, 1928.

. I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLUMINATING DEVICE.

Application filed nine 9, 1920, serial No. 387,345. Renewed November 21, 1922.

to control the form of the pencil or beam of light rays. The invention also relates to portable lamps deriving the energy for their operation from self-contained electric batteries and to devices for protecting the elec-.

tric bulb from shocks produced by the impact of the heavy battery against it. In its most specific aspect, the invention contemplates a construction of self-contained illuminating apparatus in which an electric bulb may be moved with respect to a reflector forlight-rays and in which a bufier for protecting the bulb from destructive impacts will automatically follow thebulb during its movement and be at all times in operative position with respect to the bulb.

The objects the invention are to provide a simple, cheap and effective construction for focussing an incandescent bulb with respect to a reflector, to provide a buffer or shock absorber to protect the base of an incandescent bulb from destructive impacts and shocks, and to provide a butler construction whichmay be 'used with a focussing construction in such manner that a maximum efiicienc will be obtained with a minimum of man pulation of the parts.

I attain these objects by following certain principles of construction, which are embodied in certain specific apparatus hereinafter described in connection with the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows in section a flashlight embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a section along line 22 of Fig. 1, the incandescent bulb being removed,

Fig. 3 shows in perspective the parts 22 Fig. 4- shows a modified form of the invention in which it is necessary to remove the lamp-head from the casing to change the focus,

Fig. 5 shows a section along line .5 5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig, '6 shows in perspective the back of the lamp-holding socket of the flashlight respect to the reflector.

shown in Fig. 4, together with the focussing arm and the cup against the walls the end of the focussing arm slides.

In the construction illustratedin Fig. 1 the battery-containing casing may be 0 any usual construction and provided with the usual end-cap 11, and spring 12 to support the battery 13 and make contact therewith. A conductor strip which serves to connect the zinc electrode of the battery with one end of the incandescent filament is shown at 14 and a gap in this conductor is bridged by any suitable switch 15. v i 3 r narrower. cannon of which The upper end of the casing 10 is provided with a threadedring 16 which may be riveted or otherwise attached to the casing 10. Upon the threaded ring 16 is screw edthe lamp-head 17 which carries the parabolic reflector 18, and the plane glass 19 attached thereto by means ofthe ring 20 in an obvious manner. Attached to reflector 18 at a point on its axis is a nipple 21 provided with a female thread. Encircling the nipple 21, behind the reflector is a ring 22 havng the projecting arm23, this member bemg best'shown in Fig. 3. A distance piece 24 is interposed between ring 22 and reflector 18 sothat when the ends of nipple 21 are upset, the arm 23 is rigidly positioned with Within nipple 21 is a sleeve 25 having a male thread engaging the thread of th'enipple and a female thread engaging the usual threaded base 26 of an incandescent bulb 27. In the oppositeend of sleeve 25 isa thick disc of strong insulating material 28 rigidly attached to the sleeve byrolling the metal of the sleeve into an internally projecting rib in front of disc 28 and crimping the metal of the sleeve behind the disc 28. Passing through disc 28.is a metal stud 29 which is firmly embedded in the disc 28 and insulated from sleeve 25 by the disc. The stud 29 is expanded at itslo'wer end tutor-m a shoulder which is in contact with the insulating disc and effectually prevents the stud 29 from sliding in the disc 28 under the influence of impacts against the expanded head, for a purpose hereafter de-- scribed. The terminal of the incandescent. bulb is screwed against the stud 29 and the carbon terminal of the battery is normally held firmly against the expanded head of the stud by spring 12.

soldered or otherwise rigidly attached to the inner end of sleeve is the scalloped metal disc 30, best shown in Fig. 2. Aliixed to disc is an upstanding pin 31 having a narrow notch 32 in one side, the pin and notch being so positioned with respect to arm 23 that the end of the arm 23 will pass through the notch at one stage of their-elative rotation between the reflector and its attached arm 23 and the sleeve and its attached pin 31. ff the reflector is held stationary and sleeve 25 is rotated one revolution in either direction from the position shown in Fig. 1, the arm 23 willstrike pin 31 either above or below notch 32 and further rotation will be prevented. It will thus be seen that when the sleeve 25 and attached parts are assembled, the movement of the incandescent bulb along the axis of the refiector is limited to a trifle less than twice the pitch of the thread on sleeve e In constructing the lamp, the notch v in pin 31 is so positioned that when the arm 23 registers with the notch, as shown in Fig. 1, a bulb of average dimensions will be in proper relation to the reflector to secure a proper focus. To permit a focus to. he obtained in spite of non-uniformity in the bulbs, the sleeve 25 may be rotated one revolution in either direction and this will be suilicient to secure a focus. The upper end of the conductor strip is bent to contact with scalloped disc, and the bent portion of the strip 14 has sullicient resiliency to permit rotation of the disc, the

conductor strip following its contour and remaining in contact with it at all times. The lamp-head 1'? may be locked in position after being screwed onto the ring 16 to the desired point by means of the locking ring 33 coacting with they head 3 f on ring 16. Upon screwing t-he locking ring 33 away from the lower endof the lamp-head 17, the latter may be freely screwed onto the thread on ring 16. By holding the. lamphead 17 stationary with respect to ring 16 and turning locking ring 33 tightly against the head 3%, the threads on members 16 and 17 will be pressed together so tightly that there will be no danger of the lamp head becoming accidentally displaced.

The operation and manner of assembling the flashlight is as follows: The lamp-head, reflector, plane glass 19, and the incandescent bulb are first assembled, the base of the bulb being screwed into sleeve 25 as far as possible, and'the arm 23 and notch 32 being in proper relation. The ring 33 isv placed on the lamp-head 1'? and screwed away from its lower end. The head is then screwed onto the casing. The disc 30 will immediately engage the conductor strip 14 and be held against rotation, while the arm 23 swings around the axis of rotation and strikes the pin 31 below notch 32. Conlow the notch 32, any bulb which may tinued rotation of the head will then rot-at disc 30, the scallops slipping under the resilient conductor strip 14:. Rotation is continued until the head has reached or nearly reached the limit of its motion. By the time arm 23 strikes against the pin 31 behave been inserted in sleeve 25 should be too far from there'llector to secure a perfect focus, and the continued rotation of. the lamp-head after this point isreached, is only for the purpose of securing a suitable connection between the lamp-head and the :asing. The battery may advantageously be removed from the casing until the lamp-head reaches the desired point. The battery is then placed in the casing, the end cap 11 applied, and the switch 15 manipulated to light the lamp. The lamp-head is then turned in such a direction that it will be unscrewed from the casing while the beam of light from the lamp is directed toward a suitable surface to indicate when a focus has been reached. During this reverse movement of thelamp-head, the disc 30 will be held against rotation by the conductor strip l4; and the arm 23 will swing around its axis of rotation, passing through notch 32, if the head is turned one complete revolutimi. The head may then be turned another revolution before the arm 23 strikes pin 31 above the notch, and before this point reached, a. perfect focus'will have been obtained. The locking ring 33 is then turned down tightly against the bead 34, thereby locking the head in its existing position and preserving the focus of the lamp until the ring is again movedto unlock the threaded connection.

Fig. tshows a modification of the invention in which a simplified. constructirn'r is used, but in which the lamp-head must be removed from the casing at any time when it is desired to adjust the bulb with respect to the reflector. The casing 10, end cap 11, spring 12 and switch 15, are arranged as in the construction illustrated in Fig. l, but parts are omitted for clearness of illustration. The lamp-head is also of similar construction to that of Fig. 1. However, the bulb-holding sleeve and certain of the parts behind the reflector, are modified, and the locking ring 33 and the head. 3% of ring 16 are omitted, since in the modification shown in Fig. 4, the lamp-head is intended to be screwed onto the casing to the limit of its motion at all times.

In the construction of Fig. l, the ring 22 having .the projection 23, is replaced by a cup which may have a flat bottom35, and perpendicular sides 36 projecting away from the reflector as shown in the drawing. The

D I end or the conductor strip 14 engages tne side wall of this cup and establishes electritached, but at the same time permit the sleeve to be rotated with respect to the re- Hector if it is desired to change the adjustill ment of the lamp. The insulating disc 28 penetrated by a metallic conductor 29, is preferably employed in the end of the sleeve as in the lamp shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of this modification will be readily apparent. In order to focus the bulb, itis necessary to remove the lamp-head. The sleeve. 25 may then be readily rotated as desired and will be held in any desired position by the friction between the overturned end 38 of the arm 37 and the wall 36 of the cup. The lamp-head may be ap plied to the casing and'battery momentarily, without engaging the threads on the head and the casing, in order to test the accuracy of the adjustment. WVhen a satisfactory tocus is obtained, the lamp-head is screwed onto the casing to the limit of its motion, the distance between the incandescent filament and the reflector remaining unchanged duringthis operation;

l-Vhile the flashlights illustrated. in the drawings are shown as having the batterysurrouuding casing made of fiber or other insulating material, it is obvious that metallic casings may be used instead, using in sulation where necessary ina manner well understood in the prior art. The construction herein shown is generally known as'a short circuiting construction in'that the lamp may-be caused to light regardless of the position of the switch by establishing i an outside electrical connectionbetween the end cap 11 and the lamp-head 17, asmight be done for example, by placing the flashlight in a box of metal tools. If it is desired to make the flashlight non-short-circuiting, it is only necessary to interpose suitable insulation at some point in the circuit which might thus be acciden'tly *established, as for example between the reflector 1.8 and the nipple 21.

The purpose of the thick disc of insulating material 28 in the sleeve carrying the incandescent bulb, is to provide a buffer to prevent impacts, such as would be occasioned by dropping the battery'into the flashlight, from being transmitted to the base of the incandescent bulb, since the bulb is neces sarily fragile, and a shock such as that above iustanced would be likely to so damage the bulb that it would become useless The manner of operation of the disc of insulating material will be readily apparent, since-there is no freedom of movement between the metal stud and the insulating material surrounding it, or between the insulating material and the sleeve into which it is fastened. Any impact received upon the metal stud will be transmitted to the insulating disc and thence to the sleeve 25, the nipple 21, the reflector 18, lamp-head 17 and casing 10; So long as there is no 'flexure of the disc due to such impact, no pressure can be brought upon the base of the incandescent bulb, and since the disc is of small diameter and is relatively thick, it can readily be made so stifll that no fi'exure will take place. i

The type of bulfer or shock-absorber herein disclosed, cooperates with the locus sing device in an exceptional manner in that the buffer is moved with the bulb in focussing the light and is at all times in contact with the terminal of thelamp and in an efl'ective position. The shock-absorbing devices of the prior art which were rigidly attached to the lamp-head or reflector could not be .used with a focussing device, since movement of the bulb in one direction would, in general be prevented bythe buffer or shock-absorber, while movement in the other direction would break the contact between the bulb and the'battery, and render it impossible to light the lamp. In addition to this advantage, the buffer herein described eliminates all springs such as have heretoforebeen interposed between the bulb and the battery and provides an unusually strong and positive protection for the base of the incandescent bulb. I

While the invention has been illustrated by certain specific embodiments and in con-.

claims.

I claim: I

1. In a portable electric lamp, a casing, a battery contained therein, a bulb-holder containing an electric bulb, said bulb-holder being movable for focussing, and a buffer arranged to receive the impactof the battery, said buifen, being carried by said bulb= holder. r

2. In a portable electric lamp, a casing, a battery contained therein, a reflector, abulb holder arranged for movement with respect to the reflector, an'electric bulb mounted in the bulb-holder, and a butler, arranged to receivethe impact of the battery, said bufi'er being carried by the bulb-holder.

1 3. In a portable electric lamp, a casing, a battery contained therein, a reflector, a bulb holder adapted to move along a screw thread, an electric bulb mounted in the bulbholder, and a butler arranged to receive the impact of the battery, said buffer being rigidly attached to said bulb-holder.

In a portable electric lamp, acasing, a battery contained therein, a reflector, a threaded socket mounted in lixed relation to the reflector, an externally threaded sleeve mounted for rotary and longitudinal motion in the threaded socket, an electric bulb mounted in said sleeve,and a butler arranged to receive the impact of the battery, said butler being rigidly attached to the bud b-containing sleeve.

5. In a portable electric lamp, a casing, a battery contained therein, a reflector, a threaded boss on the axis of. said reflector, an externally threaded sleeve mounted for rotary and longitudinal motion in said threaded boss, an electric bulb mounted in the sleeve, and a butler arranged to receive the impact of the battery, said liiulier com prising a strong disc of insulating material arranged transversely of said threaded sleeve and rigidly attached to the sleeve.

(3. In an illuminating device comprising a battery, an interm'illy threaded socket, an externally threaded bulb-holder mounted for rotary longitudinal motion in said socke and an electric bulb mounted in said. bulbholder in fixed relation thereto and a con-- ductive member placing said bulb in circuit with said battery and rigidly mounted to protect the bulb from impacts directed toward its base.

7. In an illuminating device, a reflector, an internally threaded socket, an externally threaded bulb-holder mounted for rotary and longitudinal motion Within said socket, an electric bulb mounted in the bulb-holder, and a plate having a serrated margin rigidly secured to said holder and adapted. to cooperate With a holding member, tor preventing accidental displacement or said billbholder in said socket.

8. In a portable electric lamp, a casing, a reflector carried thereby, an internally threaded socket in said reflector, an externally threaded bulb-holder mounted tor rotary and longitudinal motion Within said socket, an electric bulb mounted in the bulbliolder, a serrated member secured to said bulb-holder, anda contacts-trip attached to the casing and having a resilient end adapted to engage the serrated member to hold the same in position.

9. ln a 'liashlight, a casing adapted to receive a battery, an apertured reflector mounted tor rotary and lous 'itudinal movement on said casing, a rotaraole bulbholder mounted in the aperture ot the reflector and in fixed relation to the casing, and means tor restrainingrotation of the holder durmg longitudinal adpistment ot the reflector,

whereby, the relation of the holder and reflector maybe varied.

10. In an illuminating device, a casing, a head member carrying a reflector and mounted for movement With respect to said casing, a bulb-holder mounted in the reflec-' tor, means for restraining movement of the holder with the reflector, said head member having a tubular threaded extension engagin; an end of the casing", and means for lockint, the head member in position, comprising a ring threaded upon said extension.

11. In an illuminating device, a reflector, an internally threadeiil socket rigidly attached to said reflector, an externally threaded bulb-holder mounted tor rotary and longitudinal motion in said socket, an electric bulb mounted in said bulb-holder in fixed relation thereto, and means for eflecting the longitudinal adjustment of said internally threaded socket while preventing the rotation of said bulb-holder.

ii. In an illun'iinaling device, a reflector, an internally threaded socket rigidly attached to said reflector, an externally threaded bulb-holder mounted tor rotary, and longitudinal motion in said socket, an electric bulb nurunted in said lmlb-holdei. in lixed relalion thereto and means for efleeting the Longitudinal adjustment of said internally threaded socket and for preventing rotation of said bulb-lmlder during a limited portion oi the rotation of said socket. V

l3. In an illuminating device, a reflector, an internally threaded socket rigidly attached to said reflector, an externally threaded lmlb-holder mounted. for rotary and longitudinal motion in said socket, an electric bulb mounted in said bulb-holder in tixed relation thereto, means or rotating said internallythreaded socket, and means for preventing rotation of said bulb-holder during a limited portion of the rotation of said locket, andpermitting rotation of the bulb holder during other portions of the rotation ot said socket. 1

14. In a handlamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, a lamp, a support for said lamp, and a reflector rotatable on said support to move axially of said casing.

15. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein. a lamp, a support for said lamp, and a reflector threaded to said support and rotatable thereon to move axially of said casing, and thereby change the spread oi? the beam of light from said hand lamp.

16. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, a lamp, a support for said lai'i'ip, a reflector rotatable on said support to move axially of said casing, and means adapted for holding said reflector against. inadvertent rotation.

l7. Ina hand lamp, the con'ibination of a casing, abat-tery therein, a lamp support against which said battery bears and a re with; a lamp holder for said lamp, said lam holder havin anexternall threaded part; a tubular casing mclosmg said source of current, lamp and lamp holder; a reflec= tor mounted at one end of said casing and coaxial therewith, said reflector coope at-ing with said lamp; and threaded means cooperating with said externally threaded part to adjust said lamp and said reflector relatively to one another axially of said casing to change the spread of the reflected beam from said lamp.

19. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery; a lamp; an externally threaded lamp holder therefor bearing against and in circuit with said battery; impact buffing means associated with said lamp holder; a casing carrying said battery, lamp holder and lamp in axial alinement; a reflector coaxial with said casing and cooperating with said lamp; and threaded means cooperating with such external thread to effect relative adjustment of said lamp holder and said reflector axially of said casing to change the spread of the reflected beam from said lamp.

:20. In a hand lamp, the combination, of a tubular casing; a battery therein; a lamp in said casing; a lamp holder having a threaded part holding said lamp and a sec- 0nd threaded part carried thereby; a reflector adjacent one end of said casing and co axial with said battery and said lamp and threaded means cooperating with said second threaded part to effect relative adjustment of said reflector and said lamp holder axially of said asing to change the spread of the reflected beam from said lamp.

21. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing; a battery therein; a lamp in said casing; an adjustable lamp holder having a threaded part receiving said lamp, and a second threaded part movable with said lamp holder; a reflector in said casing cooperating With said lamp; and threaded means connected to said reflector and adapted to cooperate with said second threaded part to effect relative adjustment of said reflector and said lamp holder axially off said casing to change the spread of the reflected beam from said lamp. I

22. Ina hand lamp, the combination of a battery, a lamp, a" holder therefor, impact butting means between said lamp and said battery, a reflector cooperating with said lamp, a tubular casing enclosing the aforesaid elements in axial ahnement, and means whereby said reflector and said holder are relatively adjustable to alter the spread of the reflectedbeam from said lamp.

'23., In a hand lamp, the combinationof a battery; a lamp; a lamp holder therefor having an externally threaded part; a tubular casing enclosing said battery, lamp and, holder and carrying them in axial alinement with the longitudinal, axis of said tubular casing; a reflector in said casing cooperating with said lamp; and threaded means adapted to cooperate with said externally threaded part to effect relative adjustment of said reflector and lamp holder along said axis to change the spread of the reflected beam from said lamp.

24. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery; a lamp; a holder therefor having a laterally extending conductive member; a tubular casing carrying said battery, lamp and holder in axial alinement with the 1011- gitudinal' axis of said tubular casing; a re 7 flector in said casing cooperating with said lamp; -means for effecting. relative adjust ment ofsaid holder and reflector axially of said casing to alter the spread of the reflected beam'from said lamp, and a conductor in said casing having a part maintained in engagement with said member during such relative adjustment.

25. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casingga battery therein, a reflector therein, a lamp cooperating therewith, a holder therefor, means whereby said lam) holder and reflector are adjustable relatively to one another to alter the spread of the reflected beam, comprising a serrated disc carried by said liolder,*and means adapted'to engage such serrations to control the movement of said holder.

'26. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery; a lamp; a holder therefor; a reflector cooperatingwith said lamp; said reflector and holder being relatively adjustable; a tubular casing carrying said battery, lamp, holder and reflector in axial alinement with the longitudinal axis of said casing; and comprising means whereby said reflector and holder are axially adjustable relatively to one another to alter the spread of the reflected beam from said lamp; and means for retaining such adjusting means in any one of its adjusted positions.

27. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery; a lamp; a holder therefor; a reflector cooperating with said lamp; said reflector and holder being relatively adjustable; a casing enclosing said battery, lamp, holder and reflector, and comprising means whereby said reflector and holder areaxially adjustable relatively to one another to alter the spread of the reflected beam from said lamp; and a ring encircling said casing for retaining such adjusting means in any one of its adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

LEE J. vooRHEEs. 

